After Surviving Prostate Cancer Twice, Montell Jordan, 57, Says Battling Cancer Can Be ‘Isolating’ & Determined to Remain ‘Cancer Free for Life’

Jordan’s cancer didn’t appear with notable symptoms because he says he had no symptoms, no warning signs he could feel. What flagged the disease was something his doctor had been quietly watching for years.

“For the decade, I had received regular check-ups, but over time, my doctors noticed that my PSA numbers had been increasing,” he told the “TODAY” Show.

PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a protein produced by the prostate gland. Elevated or rising levels can be an early indicator of prostate cancer, and it was that steady climb that prompted further investigation.

The diagnosis that followed was Gleason 6 prostate cancer — the lowest end of a scoring scale used to measure how aggressive prostate cancer is.

The Gleason Score ranges from 6 to 10; the higher the number, the more aggressive the cancer. A score of 6 is generally classified as low risk, but still requires a treatment decision.

Jordan chose a prostatectomy — a surgical procedure to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissue. The surgery carries potential side effects, including erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, but Jordan stayed focused on what came next.

“Post-treatment, I’m doing well. I’m still going to get regular check-ups,” he said.

His cancer briefly returned before he reached remission a second time.

“Facing that journey and facing that fear was not something I ever thought I would have to do,” Montell Jordan explained.

“It’s scary when you deal with a situation where the mortality is really an issue of, like, wow, this could go another way.”

Montell and Kristen’s journey through prostate cancer is mirrored by other men and their partners in SurvivorNet’s “Shoulder to Shoulder: Getting Through Prostate Cancer with Al Roker” — a powerful new series highlighting men who are redefining what it means to survive.

“We all share this diagnosis,” Roker told a group of survivors who stepped forward to describe how prostate cancer — a disease that affects one in eight men — has reshaped their lives.

“We all tend to internalize this; we don’t talk much about it,” he added. “We NEED to talk about this.”

Better Understanding Jordan’s Proton Therapy Treatment

Proton beam therapy is a form of radiation therapy known as external beam radiation therapy. It works by using proton radiation that is sped up extremely fast and then precisely delivered to the tumor. When these particles reach the tumor, they deliver energy to the DNA, causing damage that kills the tumor cells.

“Proton therapy has a physical property called the Bragg peak,” Dr. Alan Dal Pra, a radiation oncologist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center-University of Miami Health System, tells SurvivorNet.

“This allows the radiation beam to enter the body, and there is a sharp fall-off. And when we develop the radiation volumes, the radiation field, this is able to spare more normal tissues,” Dr. Pra said.

Radiation therapy is typically given Monday through Friday, with weekends off to rest. The treatment is delivered externally and is completely non‑invasive—you won’t see, feel, or notice anything while it’s happening.

Each day, you’ll go to the radiation center and lie on a table using a custom mold—similar to a small bean bag—shaped specifically for your body and positioned around your hips.

This mold helps keep you still during treatment. Once the session is finished, you can resume your normal daily activities without any restrictions.

The proton beam therapy approach may be used for:

• Patients with localized prostate cancer who meet certain anatomic and insurance criteria
• Those seeking to reduce radiation dose to surrounding tissues (e.g., rectum or bladder)
• Men with prior pelvic radiation may benefit from proton’s precision

Advantages of proton therapy include the potential for fewer side effects due to less radiation dose to adjacent organs, a reduction in long-term risks of secondary cancers in younger patients, and it can be technically advantageous in patients with challenging anatomy.

 

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Jordan’s Cancer Journey Enters a New Phase: Survivorship

“My initial reaction was, I didn’t feel any different, and I didn’t have any symptoms,” he explained to the “Today Show.” “For the decade, I had received regular check-ups, but over time, my doctors noticed that my PSA numbers had been increasing.”

That vigilance led to a diagnosis of Gleason 6 prostate cancer—considered low risk but still requiring attention. “I was first diagnosed with Gleason 6,” Jordan said, referring to the scoring system that helps determine the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.

The results of the PSA test provide a Gleason Score. This score ranges from 6 to 10. The higher the score, the more aggressive the cancer. This score, along with other test results, helps doctors determine if cancer is “low risk,” “intermediate risk,” or “high risk.”

WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment

Jordan opted for a prostatectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the prostate and surrounding tissue. Though the surgery came with potential side effects like erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, Jordan remained focused on recovery.

“Post-treatment, I’m doing well. I’m still going to get regular check-ups,” Jordan said.

Why Prostate Cancer Can Return

Prostate cancer recurrence is not all that uncommon. A study published in the medical journal JAMA followed 1,997 men who had undergone prostate removal surgery. Of those, 304 experienced a recurrence, and about 25% of those cases occurred five or more years after surgery.

Researchers believe that dormant cancer cells can hide in the body for years. The bone marrow, in particular, is considered a key hiding place. This is supported by findings published in the International Journal of Cancer, which noted, “In one autopsy study, approximately 80% of the men who had died from prostate cancer possessed bone metastases.”

Other potential reservoirs for dormant cancer cells include the lymph nodes and the prostate bed—the area where the prostate gland once was—though these are more difficult to study.

Researchers have made significant strides in understanding how prostate cancer can spread early—even when it appears to be under control—and then return months or even years later. One key discovery is that the bones are a common site for prostate cancer to spread. In fact, scientists have found dormant cancer cells hiding in the bone marrow of many patients, even when the disease seems confined to the prostate.

Lab studies, mostly using model systems, have also helped uncover how prostate cancer cells can lie dormant for long periods before becoming active again. While treatments like hormone therapy and radiation after surgery have shown promise, experts agree that more research—both in the lab and in clinical trials—is needed to improve outcomes for patients.

Prostate Cancer Screening and Warning Signs

When you do get screened for prostate cancer, your doctor will run a few tests.

One of the tests is the PSA test, a simple blood test that screens for prostate cancer. It looks for higher levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. An elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer. It could also reflect that your prostate is enlarged, which is common, or it could signal an infection or inflammation.

Your doctor may also conduct a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check your prostate for lumps.

Depending on the results of these tests, imaging scans and a biopsy may be ordered.

WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment

Prostate cancer does not always behave the same in every man it impacts. The cancer can be considered “low-risk” and can be slow-growing, and treatment might not be necessary. In other men, the cancer may grow faster or more aggressively, requiring more immediate treatment. Because of this, there is some debate about screening.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men at average risk between the ages of 55 and 69 years talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men at age 50 who are at average risk should begin screening. Men who are at high risk of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40. Men with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer should consider annual screenings in their 30s.

SurvivorNet experts suggested that men consider factors like their family history, genes, and age when deciding whether and when to screen.

Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:

• Urinating more often
• Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
• Blood in your urine
• Trouble getting an erection
• Pain or burning when you urinate
• Pain in your back, hips, thighs, or other bones
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

If You’re Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer, What to Expect for Treatment?

After testing and establishing your risk, your doctor will discuss possible treatment options. These may range from active surveillance to more aggressive options, including surgery and radiation therapy.

WATCH: Coping emotionally after a prostate cancer diagnosis

Surgery is an option for men in any risk group of prostate cancer that hasn’t spread outside of the prostate gland. The type of surgery most often used is called a radical prostatectomy.

During the procedure, the surgeon removes the entire prostate, along with some tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles that release fluid into the semen. Your doctor can perform this through a traditional open procedure with one large incision or through laparoscopic surgery with several small incisions.

WATCH: Sexual Function Recovery After Prostate Cancer Surgery

Surgery side effects may include erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Fortunately, the side effects are usually temporary, and there are ways to help you manage them.

“Erectile function is so sensitive when we’re dealing with prostate cancer because the nerves that are critical for this function wrap around the prostate; they’re just so intimately connected to the prostate that they can be damaged from a surgical removal of the prostate or through radiation treatment,” Dr. Isla Garraway, a staff urologist in the Veterans Administration (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, told SurvivorNet.

Doctors often recommend sexual counseling after prostate cancer treatment to help improve sexual function. This approach actively addresses the psychological, emotional, and relationship impacts on sexual health.

Radiation therapy is often done when prostate cancer is caught early and confined to the prostate gland.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you have experienced symptoms associated with prostate cancer or have a screening coming up, here are some questions you may ask your doctor:

• If I had elevated PSA levels, what could be causing that besides cancer?
• How long will it take to learn if my PSA levels warrant further testing?
• What are the treatment options that are best suited for me based on my risk level?
• What financial resources exist to help me with the costs associated with treatment?
• How long will my potential treatment prevent me from working or continuing normal activities?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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